The Spread 2026 recap & our first-ever 24-hour hackathon

On October 1, 2026, thousands of changemakers tuned in to The Spread, Givebutter’s third annual product launch event. But this year, the program didn’t end when the livestream was over. 

For the past decade, Givebutter has been on a mission to make fundraising easier: eliminating silos, reducing friction, and finding new ways for nonprofits to raise more and build the world they believe in. And from the beginning, our customers have had a hand in everything we’ve built. 

This spirit of building together was at the heart of this year’s theme: Co-Create. Our users’ feedback helped shape all the new features we unveiled at The Spread product launch. Now, they’re putting their new tools into action during a 24-hour hackathon.

Press play to watch the full product launch livestream from The Spread 2026! (Captions available) 🎬

The goal? Equip changemakers with new tools, self-guided playbooks, and the support of our community, so they can turn fresh inspiration into a problem solved and time reclaimed for their missions.

Keep reading to explore every new Givebutter feature and stay tuned for highlights from our first-ever hackathon!

New features that make AI practical for nonprofits 

At Givebutter, our job is to listen to what changemakers need and build technology that helps you do your work better. So we’ve taken our time to understand what AI looks like when it’s built around the needs of nonprofits—how we can make it safe, accessible, and actually useful for everyday changemakers. 

Introducing Givebutter Magic 🪄

Givebutter Magic is a suite of responsible AI features built throughout Givebutter—not another disconnected tool nonprofits need to learn. Magic is woven throughout Givebutter to help you get past the blank page, make smarter fundraising decisions, and find the answers hiding in your data. 

First, it works inside your dashboard, offering smart recommendations and helping with time-consuming tasks, with features including: 

• Campaign creator ✨ Skip the blank page and start with a branded, ready-to-edit campaign draft, complete with a compelling story, recommended goal, and images pulled from your website.
• Smarter goals 🎯 Set a data-informed fundraising target with recommended goals, then keep the momentum going with stretch goals that automatically increase as you raise more.
• Suggested amounts 🎁 Replace one-size-fits-all giving tiers with suggested amounts informed by millions of real Givebutter donations and automatically matched to your campaign type, cause, and donor’s device.

All of these new AI-powered features are now live and free for all Givebutter users. They’re also optional, and you always have final say on what gets published. 

Take it further with AI connectors ⚡

The second way Givebutter Magic works is by extending Givebutter into the AI tools you already use. Because AI is much more helpful when it actually understands your organization, your supporters, and your fundraising, our new AI connectors let you directly connect Givebutter to ChatGPT or Claude to:

• Ask a question about your donor data and get an answer grounded in your actual organization.
• Analyze your past campaigns. 
• Or bring Givebutter together with other tools to build entirely new workflows. 

Because these connections are built and maintained by Givebutter, you can work with your fundraising data in the AI tools you already use while keeping your existing Givebutter permissions and controls in place. 

“Before we had Givebutter’s AI connector, we were pulling a lot of different reports from a lot of different places just to get one very simple answer. The AI connector has made it so much faster, so much simpler, and also allows us to use data from other sources from around the organization to really tell a better story.” - Kyle DeGood, The DeGood Foundation

At the heart of all of these developments is our commitment to building technology you can trust. We’ve always taken the responsibility of managing your data seriously, and Givebutter Magic is no different. Our approach is guided by three simple principles:

• Your data is yours.
• You stay in control.
• You always know where AI is being used.

This approach aligns with Fundraising.AI’s framework for responsible and beneficial AI in the fundraising sector, and we can’t wait to see how these new tools help lighten your load.

Same platform, new possibilities

Put Givebutter Magic to work for your mission →

New features that turn donor data into action 

Over the past year, we’ve been enhancing Givebutter’s CRM to help you better understand each supporter, spot patterns across your supporter base, and know where your attention can make the biggest difference. But first, you need to have all of your data in one place. 

Make the move with Magic Migration 🚛

Since introducing Magic Migration at The Spread in 2025, we’ve helped hundreds of organizations leave their legacy CRMs behind and make the move to Givebutter. Now, we’re expanding our migration support, taking one of the most tedious parts of switching platforms off your plate. 

With free Magic Data Extraction, our team handles the technical work of extracting your data from popular platforms and mapping it into Givebutter’s import templates for you—no more rebuilding years of donor history by hand.

A fresh start for your data

Make the switch with Magic Migration →

Redesigned contact profiles 👥

We believe your CRM should help you manage relationships, not just records. That’s why we’ve completely redesigned every contact profile to give you a clearer, more complete picture of each supporter—who they are, what matters right now, and what to do next—without digging through cluttered records.

From an activity feed that’s easier to scan and filter to AI-powered contact summaries that bring the most important context to the top of each profile, you now have a quick, clear view of an individual’s history and key details, along with recommended next steps for engagement. 

You can also now assign contact owners, one of our longest-standing CRM requests, so everyone on your team is clear on who’s responsible for each relationship. 

And, because donor conversations don’t always happen in front of a laptop, contact profiles have been upgraded in the Givebutter mobile app, too. Pull up supporter details on the go, and use our new speech-to-text feature to quickly add notes on the fly. 

Smart filters that save time 🔎

Understanding one supporter is only part of the picture. When you want to zoom out, smart filters help you quickly find exactly the supporters you’re looking for. 

Just describe what you have in mind in plain language, and Givebutter Magic builds the filter for you. From there, you can create, refine, and save segments to come back to anytime. Now, "Who gave last year but hasn't given again?" is just a search away, not hours spent digging through a spreadsheet. 

Reporting that brings your data to life 📊

You asked us for reporting that’s clearer, faster, and easier to use. Now, Givebutter Plus subscribers can skip building every report from scratch and start with rich, ready-made reports designed around nonprofit best practices.

Compare results across any time period, filter by campaign or giving type, see where donors are coming from on a live map, and dig into donor health—including new and returning donors, retention rates, and who may be at risk of lapsing.

We’ve also added deeper insights into recurring giving, so you can see how long monthly donors stick around and where you may be losing them. 

And coming soon, you’ll be able to build custom reports with Givebutter Magic. Just describe what you want to see, like “Show me first-time donors from our spring gala who haven’t given again,” and we’ll build the report for you.

With ready-made reports available now and AI-powered custom reporting on the way, we’re building toward a CRM that doesn’t just hold your data, it helps you understand it and decide what to do next.

Find your next move

Turn donor data into action with ready-made reports →

A new email editor for everyone 💌

We've completely rebuilt our email editor from the ground up, and it's something really special, designed specifically for nonprofits.

With polished templates, drag-and-drop content, and brand controls, it’s easier than ever to create beautiful, personalized emails that look great in Gmail, Outlook, and on mobile.

A new library of templates helps you get started for real nonprofit moments—like welcoming a new donor, launching a campaign, thanking supporters, or sharing your impact. And merge tags now work in subject lines, too, so you can personalize your message before someone even opens it!

You also have more flexibility to make every email your own with new column layouts, stat blocks, and personal signatures, plus seamless integrations with Unsplash, GIPHY, and Canva.

Make every send count

Move your mission forward with modern email marketing software →

Fundraising blocks that bring emails to life ⚡

Because your email, CRM, and fundraising all live in Givebutter, your outreach can now do things a standalone email tool simply can’t, like bringing your fundraising directly into an email itself. 

With new fundraising blocks, Givebutter Plus subscribers can seamlessly add live goal bars, auction items, tickets, and peer-to-peer leaderboards into any email. Just choose the campaign you want to feature, and Givebutter pulls the details into the message for you.

Givebutter Plus subscribers also now have the option to hide Givebutter branding from email, so whether you’re writing a quick note or a polished newsletter, one email editor covers all your bases.

Video messages that make it personal 📹

We know how powerful personal messages can be in building donor relationships, so we wanted to make it easier to create those moments of connection right from Givebutter.

Now, Givebutter Plus subscribers can record and send videos directly from any contact profile.

“My favorite thing about Givebutter video messages is that they combine gratitude, information, and human connection in one simple interaction. In just 30 seconds, a supporter can feel individually seen, valued, and informed about their impact.” -  Dr. Sanjay Bindra, GOSUMEC Foundation USA 

Thank a new donor, reconnect with a longtime supporter, or personally invite someone to an upcoming event—with a button to RSVP or grab a ticket right from your message. 

Every video message stays connected to the donor’s profile, right alongside the rest of your relationship.

Put a face to your gratitude

Make donor outreach more personal with video messages →

Experience everything new in Givebutter Plus ➕

Since launching Givebutter Plus just two years ago, more than 4,000 organizations have made the switch. Nonprofits aren’t just saving time and money by consolidating tools—organizations using Givebutter Plus raise nearly 3x as much on Givebutter.

While most of the features we unveiled at The Spread are available for free, Givebutter Plus gives you access to advanced tools, including new prebuilt reports, fundraising blocks in emails, and video messages.

Ahead of the end-of-year giving season, we want every organization to have a chance to try Givebutter Plus. So we’re opening up a fresh 30-day trial to everyone.

If you’ve already used your trial, we’re extending the offer to you again through the end of the year. Just launch a new trial in your dashboard and get started.

Take it further

Explore everything new in Givebutter Plus →

New tools that bring more of your work under one roof 

Last year at The Spread, we shared our vision for Givebutter to be the home for nonprofits—one place to fundraise, run events, build relationships, manage money, and more. This year, we’re bringing even more of that work under one roof.

More ways to manage your spending 💳

In 2025, we introduced Givebutter Wallet, a free, secure place in your dashboard to manage your funds and earn 2.5% APY rewards on every dollar raised. 

Today, more than 7,000 organizations are already using Wallet to make their hard-raised funds go even further, with nearly $100M added to Wallet since we launched.

“The Mighty Millie Foundation uses Givebutter Wallet every single day! We’re grateful to have fundraising and spending connected. We’ve earned enough rewards to give 2,000 popsicles to kids fighting cancer in the hospital. This is amazing, and something we wouldn’t have done otherwise.” - Nick Mracek

Over the past year, we’ve made it even easier to put those Wallet funds to work, including new Spend Cards. 

You can make payments directly from your Wallet balance with a virtual or physical card, add it to Apple Pay or Google Pay, get cash out at any ATM, and skip the wait for a bank transfer.

You can also now manage expenses right in Givebutter. Set spending limits on every card, automatically track every purchase, and upload receipts that Givebutter Magic verifies against the matching transaction—giving you more control over team spending and a clearer picture of where your organization’s money is going.

An easier way to process checks 🤳

New mobile check acceptance lets you process checks right from the Givebutter mobile app. Just snap a photo, and the donation is recorded in Givebutter while the funds settle directly into your Wallet, ready to earn APY rewards or for your team to spend.  

And because everything is connected in Givebutter, your donor records, receipts, QuickBooks syncing, and automations can keep working just like they do with any other transaction. 

No trip to the bank. No managing the check and the funds in two different places.

From raising to spending

Put your fundraising dollars to work with Givebutter Wallet →

A smoother experience at every event 🎟️

Fundraising events can be some of your biggest fundraising moments—and some of the most complicated to pull off. 

We’re continuing to make event day easier for you and your supporters, starting with check-in. You can now see helpful details like table seating and custom fields right when you need them. And with wallet passes, supporters save tickets to their phones, so they’re always easy to find.

We’ve also added two popular requests to our free auction software: blind bidding and popcorn bidding. When the room is ready to give, paddle raise helps you capture that energy—and every pledge—in the moment. 

And now that donors can save their preferred payment method, they can participate and give throughout your event without entering the same information over and over.

A smoother event starts here

Bring it all together with Givebutter’s fundraising event tools →

A new home base for every supporter 🏠

Your supporters might buy a ticket, make a one-time donation, become a monthly donor, or do all three. Our brand-new donor portal gives them one place to keep track of it all. 

Supporters can view their giving history and receipts, update recurring gifts, and manage their event tickets—including updating guest details or reassigning a ticket themselves.

They also have more control over their peer-to-peer fundraising, with new ways to register multiple participants, join or create teams, manage participants, and transfer pages they’ve registered.

The entire experience is branded to your organization, so your cause stays front and center every time they log in. Supporters get more visibility and control, while your team spends less time tracking down receipts or resending tickets.

More control, fewer requests

Give supporters a home base with the donor portal →

More fundraising power for your Wix website 🖥️

Your nonprofit’s website is often your best opportunity to make a good impression on new supporters and help existing supporters go deeper. That’s why we’ve partnered with Wix to make it easier to turn your nonprofit’s website into a fundraising powerhouse. 

With more than 300 million registered users, Wix is one of the world’s leading website platforms—and with our native Wix integration, Givebutter is built right into it. 

Whether you’re creating a new Wix website with a custom domain or connecting one you already have, you can add Givebutter donation forms, buttons, email sign-ups, and more from the Wix editor, without touching a single line of code. The integration is optimized for any device, creating a smooth, branded, more connected supporter experience in just a few minutes.

Put your website to work

Turn your site into a fundraising hub with Givebutter’s Wix integration →

Volunteer management made easy 🖐️

Your donors and volunteers aren’t always two separate groups. The same person might give their time, make a donation, attend an event, or all of the above. But when that activity lives in different systems, you don’t always see the full picture. 

More than 300 Givebutter users requested volunteer management, and now it’s here. Through our new integration with POINT, you can recruit, onboard, schedule, and manage volunteers—and keep that activity connected to the supporter relationships you have in Givebutter. 

Volunteer sign-ups and service hours flow from POINT into Givebutter automatically, so you can see who’s giving their time, who’s giving financially, and who’s doing both, all in one place.

Get the full picture

Connect volunteer and donor data with Givebutter’s POINT integration →

The Spread hackathon: 24 hours of building together 🛠️

In the spirit of Co-Create, we’re expanding The Spread beyond the livestream in 2026 with our first-ever community hackathon. 

Changemakers have 24 hours, seven self-guided playbooks, and everything we unveiled live in their Givebutter dashboards to tackle a real challenge facing their organization.

The playbooks 📚

Each playbook walks changemakers through a common nonprofit challenge step by step, helping them build something practical they can keep using long after the hackathon ends. 

• Launch a fundraising campaign in an afternoon
• Get your Giving Tuesday campaign launch-ready
• Set up a strong recurring giving program 
• Create a 90-day fundraising plan from your donor data
• Design a smoother event journey 
• Transform your Wix site into a fundraising hub
• Wildcard: Bring your nonprofit’s idea to life

The meetups 🤝 

We Are For Good, which we welcomed into the Givebutter family last year, will host hackathon meetups in five cities on October 2: New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Indianapolis, and Denver.

As an added bonus, eligible organizations that complete a project and submit a short video about what they built will earn a $100 reward in their Givebutter Wallet.

Stay tuned for the results from our first-ever hackathon! 

What we’re building together next 🚀

Believe it or not, everything we unveiled at The Spread is only a fraction of what we’ve been building this year. We’ve launched more than 1,000 product improvements in 2026 alone, and thanks to our growing team, we’re proud to be delivering on our public roadmap faster than ever before.

That’s what Co-Create looks like in practice: You tell us what’s working, what’s getting in your way, and what you need next—and we keep building from there. We can’t wait to keep building alongside you.

And if you’re new to Givebutter, there’s never been a better time to join us and help shape what’s next for nonprofits. Create your free Givebutter account today, and let’s see what we can build together.